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Original poster

Wish I had kept my mouth shut... inconsiderate family

51 replies

BadFam1 · 04/10/2013 15:34

Bit of a rant, but also I need some rational people to give me their honest opinions on a name.

DH and I have had a nightmare deciding on a boys name. We narrowed it down to two, but one is definitely our favourite. We weren't going to tell anyone our choices because we didn't want to be influenced, I'm sure you all get the 'I went to school with someone/ dated/ met a kid with that name and they were terrible comments'

Anyway, over the last couple of weeks I think we have become pretty set on our name of choice.

I was at my Nans on Sunday with my mum, auntie and uncle. Over dinner names came up as my cousin has recently had a little girl, who coincidently they also do not like the name of.

Anyway, I reluctantly admitted that we are keen on the name Owen.
We wanted something different, and something that couldn't really be shortened.

His full name would be Owen Geoffrey Pretty.

Finding a name that goes with my DHs surname is already a challenge in itself but we thought we had escaped possible name issues.

This is the response I got

"You can't name him that, it's a surname'

"His initials will be 'OP', hi 'OP'

His signature will be 'opretty' which then prompted my mum to wander around the room to chorus's of 'O so Pretty' etc etc.

I left on Sunday feeling deflated, and it has now really made me question my choice, but everything else I look at just doesn't feel the same to me.

What does everyone else think... is being Mr O Pretty so bad?

OP posts:
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JoJoManon · 04/10/2013 15:38

It's no one elses business, I think Owen is a lovely name.
And even if no one else likes it, if you and your OH do, then to hell with what anyone else thinks.
Anytime anyone asks me my choices I never tell anyone anything, aside from close friends, to whom I send the short list of 10 boys and 10 girls.

I really hate when people butt into something that has nothing to do with them. Don't let them influence you...

SnakeyMcBadass · 04/10/2013 15:42

Owen is a perfectly fine boys name. Ignore them, the rude gits.

lchats · 04/10/2013 15:45

Great name - have had a similar issue with dh's family, but then my mum didn't like my dd1's name for ages - she loves it now and wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm not sure their reasons for not liking the name make all that much sense to me .... Go with your heart :)

EeyoreIsh · 04/10/2013 15:51

It works fine, ignore the family!

SweetTeaVodka · 04/10/2013 16:00

Owen is a lovely name, if you really like it then go for it, I would'nt have noticed any of the 'problems' they did. Are they the type that would find something negative to say regardless.

One thing though, you might want to get HQ to edit your post as there is a lot of identifiable information there (especially if your username is your first name and year of birth as it looks like!) :)

Journey · 04/10/2013 16:01

Owen is fine but the "O so pretty" isn't the best.

squoosh · 04/10/2013 16:05

I quite like the 'O Pretty'!

Owen is great name, to be honest your family sound like the very vocal sort who'd have strong opinions on everything.

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

JoinTheDots · 04/10/2013 16:06

Ignore them, Mr O Pretty is fine!

Owen is a lovely name (was number one choice had DD been a DS) and if you have fallen in love with it, then that is who your little boy will be.

Choccyhobnob · 04/10/2013 16:39

I think Owen is fine! All the comments seem to be a pun on the surname which you don't have a choice of! but if your DH and his brothers/father/grandfather survived school I'm sure he will too!

Original poster
BadFam1 · 04/10/2013 16:45

Thank you everyone.

We both still really like it and it just feels right, I guess I wanted to make sure my irritating family were in the minority :)

OP posts:
MysterySpots · 04/10/2013 16:48

You could spell it the Irish way: Eoin. Pronounced exactly the same as Owen.

TombOfMummyBeerest · 04/10/2013 16:49

I actually know an O Pretty. ..a girl though. No one cares about initials.

Owen is a great name.

AnythingNotEverything · 04/10/2013 16:51

Owen is lovely. Ignore them. Why do people have to be so rude?!

SoupDragon · 04/10/2013 16:54

He can always be Mr O. G. Pretty if it is a problem.

I am now singing "Oh so pretty" in my head now though so thanks for that Hmm :)

MrsEricBana · 04/10/2013 16:55

Oh just ignore them. Owen is a great name and O Pretty is fine. We were turned against a name for dd by relatives on very unPC grounds and actually would have been perfect for her.

Badvoc · 04/10/2013 17:02

I think it's lovely

donteatthat · 04/10/2013 17:02

I think it's a lovely name, and I don't really get what they're on about O Pretty, nothing wrong with that! I sympathise because our surname starts with O'D so we were told we couldn't have a name beginning with S or G or it would be Sod or God but whoever uses initials anyway? I just add in the middle name initial, hey presto no problem. Ignore them, how very mean of them to rain on your parade, go with your gut! It is your child!

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 04/10/2013 17:15

Ignore them.
Owen is a great name.
Their objections to the name seem a bit pathetic really. I don't get the 'OP' thing at all, and any first name will still have the surname Pretty.
It's not like you were suggesting the equivalent of Annette Curtain or Ophelia Balls, is it?

Mandyflo · 04/10/2013 17:53

Owen, is a lovely boys name. I know a few myself.
This is your little boy and you make the decision of his name.
Owen is beautiful :)

ladymia · 04/10/2013 18:02

those are pretty tame comments??

if you're put off this easily you're either very sensitive or not REALLY that keen on the name

ladymia · 04/10/2013 18:03

ps. I like the name

LunaticFringe · 04/10/2013 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PinkGlove · 04/10/2013 18:13

We too have an awkward surname that's also a word. Choosing DS name was an absolute nightmare. I pity my sons facing the same dilemma if they have children!

I like Owen. Absolutely nothing wrong with the name in full or initials.

spanky2 · 04/10/2013 18:13

My mum said ethan is a cowboys name
and so does your uncle you can'tcall him that . we did anyway . it's not up to them .

hawkmcqueen · 04/10/2013 18:52

I live in N Ireland and know a few little Owens and firstly have to say that they are all the loveliest of boys. I would also suggest spelling it differently if u didn't want the O, as Eoin or Eoghan. But it's a good name. Another name that springs to mind that I would count as similar is Ronan.